Bamberg Old Town

Bamberg is often referred to as the Rome of Franconia. It was a centre of imperial and episcopal power for almost a thousand years. Surrounded by beautiful countryside, Bamberg stands on seven hills and is a unique masterpiece of uniting medieval and baroque architecture.

Bamberg’s well-preserved old town is a part of the UNESCO World Heritage. The town comprises three historical districts – the episcopal town, the island town and the market gardener’s town.

The historical townscape features numerous monuments from the 11th to the 18th century and some 1,200 architectural monuments. With its four towers, the imperial cathedral of St. Peter and St. George is the most prominent building. Inside are the Bamberg Rider, a priceless masterpiece of consummate simplicity; the tomb of Pope Clemence II, the only papal grave in Germany; and the tomb of the Emperor Heinrich II and his wife Cunigunde. Domplatz (Cathedral Square) is bordered by the impressive baroque New Palace and the Alte Hofhaltung Palace. Other highlights include the Brückenrathaus, the rose garden with a view of the old town, the tanners’ cottages by the old canal, the mill district and the fisherman’s village known as Little Venice.

And then, what with this being Bavaria, there is Bamberg’s beer. This is where you’ll find the famous smoked beer, which, along with other distinctive brews, is best sampled on one of the special Beer Tasting Tours, which will take you to various bars and breweries in the town.